The average life expectancy of Japanese men and women rose in 2023 for the first time in three years. The health ministry says the result is due to a decline in deaths from the coronavirus.
The ministry says the average life expectancy at birth for women was 87.14 years, up 0.05 years from 2022. The figure for men rose by 0.04 years to 81.09 years.
The average life spans had decreased in 2021 and 2022, due to rising death tolls from the coronavirus.
But the ministry says that last year, the number of people who died of COVID decreased by 9,558 to 38,080.
It says the percentage of people who died of old age rose in 2023 from the year before, while the proportion of deaths from diseases, including COVID and cancer, decreased.
The health ministry says Japanese women had the longest life expectancy among countries and territories that release relevant data. They have now topped the global list for 39 consecutive years.
Japanese men ranked fifth, after Switzerland, Sweden, Norway and Australia.
Health ministry officials say the longevity of both men and women shows that Japan has an extremely high level of health care. They say they will continue making efforts to promote health and welfare services.